Chicken-coop.



E. STOUT & J. M. KNOWLES.

CHICKEN COOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1911.

1,013,233. Patented Jan.2,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1v Witnesses Inventors Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASH|NGTDN. n. c.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 E. STOUT & J. M. KNOWLES.

Attorneys llA LANUGIIAIH co., WASHINGTON, 1 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD STOUT AND JESSE M. KNOWLES,

OF STOCKPORT, IOWA.

CHICKEN-COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application filed May 18, 1911. Serial No. 627,909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD STOUT and Jnssn M. KNOWLES, citizens of the United States, residing at Stockport, in the county of Van Buren, State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Chicken-Coop, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in what are termed chicken coops.

The invention has for its object to promote ventilation or air-circulation and otherwise add to the comfort or care of the chickens.

A further object is to provide for ready ingress and egress to and from the coop.

A still further object is to afford suitable storm protection, and otherwise render the coop weather-proof.

A still further object is to provide for admitting to the coop sun-light or additional air in further providing for the care and sanitary conditions of the chickens.

A still further object is to provide for the compact folding and storing of the device or coop as well as the ready assembling and disassembling of the parts.

A still further object is to provide for carrying out the aforesaid ends in a simple, economical and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein as to the details of the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective of our chicken-coop, with the storm closures at the forward end in open posi tion. Fig. 2 is also a perspective thereof, viewing from the rear, or the coop reversed, with the top slid away from one end as in exposing the interior to sunlight, and with both end storm-closures in open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coop also showing the end storm-closures in like position. Fig. 4: is a detached perspective of the floor or bottom member and the inner or supplemental rear end closure member in position thereon, as when in the coop. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective of the front-end supplemental or inner closure members of the coop, the lower closure-member being removed from its receiving frame and relatively disposed thereto. Fig. 6 is a broken transverse section produced through a lateral portion of the forward end of the coop and of the supplemental closure frame. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view disclosing more fully just how the bottom or floor member is supported in position, said view showing more especially a portion of one of the bottom flanges upon the inside of the lateral or side members and a portion of said bottom. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the device, more fully disclosing the construction of the grooves at the forward ends of the lateral members for effecting connection therebetween and the end-members, and the frame-member at the back end of the coop.

In carrying out our invention, we provide imperforate lateral members or sides 1, suitably supported in elevated position by means of short leg-forming extensions 2 in continuation thereof and of a rear-end frame, again later refer-red to. Said lateral members or sides are provided at their respective forward ends with vertical grooveforming terminals or portions 3, the grooves facing inwardly as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the legs 2 being formed in continua tion with said groove-forming terminals. The lateral portions or sides are also provided, at their upper or top edges, with outwardly bent longitudinal horizontal narrow extensions or flanges 4. and, at their bottom or lower edges, with upwardly and inwardly turned or bent extensions 5, the latter themselves being formed with inwardly projecting horizontal extensions or flanges 6, the function of which will presently appear.

A bottom or floor member 7, preferably imperforate, and of requisite dimensions, is suitably held to the lateral members or sides 1, the same being received above and supported upon the lateral horizontal flanges 6, transverse nut or key equipped rods 8 being passed beneath said bottomor floor member, and through apertures in said lateral members or sides for securing together said lateral members at their lower ends.

A metal strap or strip 9, forming a tying member between the bottom supporting rods 8, ha'sits ends inturned or looped as at 10 totake under, and receive the end-rods, said tying member being applied above said rods, as clearly disclosed by Fig. 3 for more effectively securing or assembling these parts.

It will be observed that by having the bottom or floor member, arranged as above indicated, or adapted to -be withdrawn or slid out of, and into the coop, the chicks may all be readily drawn forwardly-upon said bottom or floor in removin them from. the coop,

When this may be desired, and thus avoid the necessity of reaching back into the coop to secure any of the shicks that maybe disposed to be dilatory or inclined to not voluntarily leave the coop, which will be readily appreciated.

A suitable top or roof-forming member 11, suitably sloped in conformity with the upper edges of the lateral members or sides correspondingly inclined toprovide for such slope, has its lateral edges extended beyond and forming inwardly opening grooves 12, and receiving the lateral flanges 4 at the top l edges of said lateral members or sides, whereby the top or roof may not only be suitably and portably assembled therewith, but said roof or top may be slid away from the end wall of the coop for sanitary purposes, as admitting sunlight or additional air to the interior of the coop for the comfort or benefit of the chickens and to aid in the elimination of excess of moisture or dampness, mustiness, and vermin, all of which will be readily appreciated.

A downwardly deflected or inclined portion or extension 13 is formed in continuation of, or otherwise applied to the forward end or edge of the roof or top member 11 to form a guard or protection for the storm closure hinges at that point or end from the weather, as will be readily apparent. The opposite or rear end of the roof or top member is also extended as at 14 for a like purpose with respect to the hinges of the storm closures at that end or point.

Suitable doors or closure-members l8 and 19, which may be termed storm doors or closures are suitably hinged or pivoted as at 18 to the front end of the coop, at its upper and bottom edges, respectively, the upper closure member having its bottom edge meeti-ng'the upper edge of the lower closure member when said closure members are in closed position, a rod 19 holding the closures against casually opening, said rod being suitably held to-the coop. It will be understood that the rod 19 is viewed as being disposed diagonally and rest-ing upon I j the ground in Fig. 3, and that, when in use,

the doors or closures are in closed position, the rod then being placed in a vertical position across or against said doors, with its upper end forced inunder the member 13, which will serve to clamp or retain the same in upright position. The upper closure member may be held in open, or outwardly or rod being loosely connected or linked, as

at 21, so as to allow of sufficient endwise movement of the prop or rod for its engagement and disengagement with and from said bottom edge. It will be noted that, with the upper storm door propped openawningfashion, as above indicated, the coop may be suitably ventilated or aired and the chicks in the coop be protected against rain driving therein as in inclement or rainy weather. At the rear or opposite end of the coop is also applied a closure 22, which may be also termed a storm-closure, the same being hinged or pivoted at its upper edge as at 23 to the upper cross-bar of a frame 22'" at the end of the coop, thus enabling the closure to open or swing upwardly, it being held in such position by means of a propping member or rod 24, suitably connected to or engaging said closure at its lower end, when open, and thebottom cross-bar of the frame 22 respectively as clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3. By propping open the outer or storm closures, at both ends of the coop, a through passage for the outside air is provided, when desired, as is apparent, while these closures primarily provide for the ef fective closing of the coop as against access whatever from the outside.

An inner reticulated or wire-netting member 15, forming a supplemental top for the coop, or rather its interior, for service when the top member 11 is slid partially off the coop, is suitably supported portably or removably in position by means of transverse nut or key-equipped rods 16 suitably inserted through apertures in the sides or lateral members 1, and beneath said member 15. The supplemental top or roof member '15 is preferably provided with ring or loop connections 17 at one end with one of the rods 16, while said member simply rests at its opposite end upon the other rod, to allow of the ready removal or withdrawal of said rods, as when it may be desired to disassemble the parts. At the front end of the coop are also applied supplemental closure-members 25 and 26, these, however, being reticulated or of wire netting, and are contained within, or carried by a suitable frame 27, the upper closure being stationary therein, while the lower closure is slidable or movable therein, for ready ingress and egress to and from the coop for the chickens, as will be readily understood. The lower. or slidable closure, is suitably held in closed position, or adjustably, for varying the amount of opening as may be required, by means preferably of a bail-like device or hanger 28 whose upper ends are adapted to be hooked or caught Copies of this patent may be obtained for into the mesh of the upper closure member, while the inner ends of the horizontal arms of the hanger 28 are adapted to engage the mesh of the lower closure-member as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. The frame 27 is provided with doubled groove-forming end-members 27 to receive the upper and lower closuremembers 26 and 25, respectively, while the exterior formations of the forward grooved portions of said end-members are received by the forward-end grooves 3 of the lateral members or sides 1 thus providing for joining the parts at that end of the coop without other or the usual means of fastening. A reticulated or wire netting member 29 is also provided to form a supplemental closure for the back end of the coop, said member being preferably supported in upright position upon the bottom or floor member 7, it being received at its bottom edge within branched members or keepers 30 secured to said bottom or floor member. Said supplemental closure or member 29 has connected thereto a short distance below its upper edge, the upper end of a prop or brace 31 therefor, whose lower end is hooked or has a lateral extension 32 engaging a keeper 33 secured to the bottom or floor member 7, as clearly seen in Fig. 4:. A rear or back end frame 3& is also applied to the coop, the same being received at its lateral edges within the grooves 3, at that end thereof for the like purpose as ascribed to the connection between the lateral members or sides and the forward-end supplemental closure frame 27, the opening of which latter is guarded or closed by the reticulated closure-member 29.

As the bottom and closure members, together with all the other parts of the device are preferably of metal, it is desirable to suitably sand said bottom, as also the inside of the lower front outer closure, which, when in open position forms a runway or bridge for the chicks to travel upon in leaving and entering the coop, a suitable paint being used in sanding the named parts, to cause the sand to suitably adhere thereto, this sanding of said parts being to give the chicks a suitable footing as will be readily appreciate It is believed that the advantages and benefits of our invention have been made fully apparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing or illustration, it being emphasized that it is characterized for simplicity, embracing few parts, is highly sanitary, is capable of being perfectly ventilated, is

devoid of the objection of generating vermin, is foldable or portable, and is inexpensive of manufacture.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the character described, including lateral members provided with endgrooves and an end-closure whose frame is provided with doubled groove-extensions at its lateral edges, the exterior of opposed groove extensions being received by the endgrooves of said lateral members.

2. A device of the character described, including lateral members having grooveforming end extensions, an end closure frame having double-groove forming extensions, and closure-members accommodated by said groove-forming extensions, opposed groove-forming extensions being received by said end groove-forming extensions.

3. A device of the character described, including lateral members having bottom-edge upwardly extending portions terminating in horizontal flanges, a bottom-member, and securing rod-members extending below said bottom member and engaging said lateral members, said bottom-member being received slidably upon said flanges.

4. A device of the character described, including lateral members having bottom-edge horizontal flanges, rod-members engaging said lateral members and a bottom-member resting upon said flanges said rod-member extending below said bottom member.

5. A coop of the type described, including lateral members, a bottom having a reticulated upright member forming a rear-end closure for the coop, inner reticulated closure-members at the forward end of the coop, a slidable imperforate roof, and a supplemental reticulated top-member.

6. A coop of the type described, including lateral members, a bottom having an up right reticulated member adapted to form a rear end closure for the coop, an imperforate hinged rear-end closure for the coop, means for the retention of said imperforate closure in open position, reticulated closure members for the forward end of the coop, a slidable imperforate roof, and an inner reticu lated top member.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EDW. STOUT. JESSE M. KNOWLES.

Witnesses:

WM. F. PLUMER, M. C. Mo'r'r.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

